This sabbath, we are celebrating both the Jewish holiday of Shavuot (Feast of First Fruits, Giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai), and the Christian Day of Pentecost (the Coming of the Holy Spirit). It is not a coincidence that this day celebrates these multiple things.

The Sunday after Passover (Resurrection Day or Easter) , is the day the Priests in the temple waved the very first sheaf from the spring harvest. (Leviticus 23:10-11). This represented Christ's resurrection and His status as the firstborn among many brethren. 50 days after this sheaf was waved, the harvest was gathered in, and the first fruits of that harvest was offered to the Lord. This was the day of Pentecost. Israel traditionally celebrated this day as the day the Law was given to them on Mt. Sinai., calling it Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks - since it was celebrated the day after 7 weeks were completed from when the first sheaf was waved. This was the day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and disciples and the ministry of the church was kicked off with power! Father, Son, and Spirit are all in view here!

The Gifts of the Spirit have been a source of controversy - some denominations claiming that they were given only to the early church and have since ceased (Cessationist), some denominations focusing exclusively on them (e.g. Pentecostals) as being a testimony of salvation, others not really caring about them - focusing instead on their own efforts. We hope this weeks post helps shed some light on this issue and shows you how vital the Spirit is to all us Christians.

Why do we have the Gifts of the Spirit? Short Answer... Wholeness beyond Justification!

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." (1 Co 12:4-6)

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Eph 4:11-15)

The first text talks about there being different kinds of gifts (Charisma - from Charis - Grace - the Spirit!), the second is administrations (Diakonia - from which we get Deacon - signifying Service - Our Lord Jesus Christ!) , and operations (Energema - from which we get energy - the Power of God!). We see a unity between gifts, service, and power for ministry, reflecting the unity of the Trinity itself!

The second text explains why a particular sub-set of gifts (pastor, teacher, apostle, prophet, evangelist) are given - for perfecting, for edifying, for helping us grow up into Him in all things, for uniting us, to becoming perfect men! However, these gifts are only a subset!

To better understand the work of the Spirit in giving us these gifts, we must understand a key point. His Seven Fold Nature. In the book of Revelation we see 7 lamps of fire burning before the throne, the seven Spirits of God (Rev 4:5). In the Tabernacle in the Wilderness we see the earthly representation, as a candlestick with 7 lamps (the Menorah). Finally in Isaiah and Exodus we see YHWH giving His Spirit to HIs Servant, and Bezaleel for crafting the Tabernacle - "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; (Is 11:2,see Exodus 31:2-3)

The Isaiah text is foundational to understanding His Seven Fold operation echoed in the Menorah. The central Candle being the Spirit of the Lord, and 3 candles on each side being wisdom,understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the LORD.

When His Spirit comes to live within us, we can think of Him giving us the power to think (wisdom, understanding, counsel), know (knowledge, fear of the Lord), and act (might). This seven fold / 3 class capability is manifested in the 9 gifts of the Spirit enumerated in 1 Cor 12:8-10. Thinking and Knowing gifts : Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Discernment of Spirits; Interpretation of Tongues, Prophecy, Speaking in Tongues. Acting/Might gifts: Faith, Healing, Miracles.

These in turn, manifest as ministries Rom 12:6-8 Teaching, Leadership, Prophecy, Ministry, Encouragement, Giving, Mercy , and the Spirit of the Lord Himself manifests as Fruits - Gal 5:22-23 Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Faith, Goodness, Meekness, Self Control.

One Person in the entire universe manifested all these gifts in one Person. The Lord Jesus Christ! Now look at the picture in this post and see Him for Yourself!! The perfect man of whom it is written in Psalm 1 : "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. -- And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper---. (Ps 1:1-3) Do you see the tree !!! Hallelujah!!

And not just Him, it applies to us too! "The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;" (Ps 104:16). We have been planted by Him, and His Ministry is to help us grow from little seeds to majestic cedars, up to the measure of the fullness of Christ! That is the model of perfection that we must all be conformed to... that is our destiny - as mini Trees of Life - to bear the fruits of the Spirit, and our leaves be for the Healing of the Nations through our ministry, rooted in the Spirit of Christ, from whom all good things flow.

That is what the picture indicates. A human tree, the trunk containing the Spirit of the Lord, the black text being the 7 fold operation (Is 11:2), the 9 1 Cor 12:8-10 gifts shown in 3 different colors (thinking/knowing/doing -- you can classify them as you want), all of this under the ground and invisible. The left side - thinking knowing, the right side, acting doing. What is manifested above the ground are the Fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5), and the ministries stemming from the roots (Rom 12). The texts have been placed at the 4 corners of the picture for your reference. We hope you can see the alignment between the 7 fold Nature of the Spirit and the gifts He gives- arranged in the picture by design.

Happy Sabbath, and Most Happy S